‘Intrusive Birkenshaw turbine to impact Adwalton Moor battlefield’  

Credit:  By Jonathan Redhead | Telegraph & Argus | www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk 24 June 2012 ~~

Plans to build a wind turbine on farmland on the edge of an English Civil War battlefield, should be altered according to a conservation officer.

Richard Dawson has applied to construct an 18m-tall turbine on his land at Hill Top Farm, Whitehall Road East, Birkenshaw, with Universal Green Energy acting as his agent.

But the proposed site for the turbine is within metres of the battlefield of Adwalton Moor, which saw action 369 years ago this month.

And ahead of a decision on the application by Kirklees Council, there have been calls for changes to original plan.

In a report, Anne Ross, a conservation and design officer at the council, says: “The proposed turbine is to be 18m and white in colour. From a visual impact perspective, it is considered that white turbines are more visually intrusive and more noticeable in comparison to the turbines with grey masts and black blades.

“A 15m turbine would also have a reduced impact upon the setting of the registered battlefield. It is therefore advised that a smaller turbine which is darker in colour is considered to reduce the impact upon the setting of the designated heritage asset.”

But Laura Hirst, writing to the Council on behalf of the agents, said the application complies with the recent National Planning Policy Framework and should be allowed.

She said: “In the case of Hill Top Farm all environmental issues have been satisfactorily addressed.”

The deadline for public comments is July 9.